Johnny's Sig Tutorials Pt. 1 -- Teaser

[Johnny 1]

Okay guys, to hold you over until I EVENTUALLY get off my lazy butt and...well, actually, I'd still be on my lazy butt, but whatever. Until I "get off" my lazy butt and do those tutorials I said I would, here's like a mini-tutorial as like a teaser or whatever. It's basically just general tips and resources...

 

Tips (In no particular order):

 

Don't use colored brushes.

Don't use Hue/Saturation.

Always add a brightness contrast layer and up the contrast.

Always use color balance layers to color.

Rarely leave text a flat color. Usually it's best to lower the text layer's fill opacity.

Always add text effects. Drop shadow, and a black stroke with lowered opacity is very effective.

Don't use bevels.

Don't mix styles (grunge sig with tech border, for example.)

An extra black brushing layer set on overlay is useful for toning down midtone colors.

Patterns are very effective.

Always use a border.

When resizing a render, make sure the chainlink icon is clicked, so it resizes with height-width in proportion.

Always use white or black text/brushing (white's usually better) for brushing, text, and similar details, and color later with color balance layers.

Avoid Photoshop default filters and brushes.

 

Resources:

 

Brushes:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/(Grunge)*

http://destiny952.deviantart.com/(Everything)

http://metal-cx.deviantart.com/(Grunge) *

http://wurklash.deviantart.com/(Tech) *

http://sexyalice.deviantart.com/(Fractal)

http://nickmeister.deviantart.com/(Tech)

http://bash.deviantart.com/(Grunge)

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/(Grunge)

http://aleaja.deviantart.com/?rnrd=58429 (Lighting)

 

The () show what style brushes they make, but some of them aren't limited to just one category...that's just what they PRIMARILY make.

 

Renders:

http://www.gamefront.com/ (Packs of renders)*

http://www.gamerenders.com/forum/(Newly cut renders)

 

Fonts:

http://www.dafont.com/de/*

http://www.1001fonts.com/

 

Tutorials:

http://www.good-tutorials.com/(Photoshop only)*

http://www.pixel2life.com/(Photoshop, but a bunch of other programs, along with scripting)

 

Now, remember, the tips have exceptions (quite a few, for some of them), so don't take it as "set in stone". You can break a rule or add to one...those are just IN GENERAL.

 

Also, some resources may be more useful than others, but I've found them all to be quite useful.

 

* -- Recommended resource.

 

Okay guys, that should give you a tiny bit of insight for now, I suppose. Keep an eye out for those tutorials of mine.

Edited August 2, 2005 by Johnny (see edit history)

[Saint_Michael 3]

yeah now i can really do sigs now, actually johnny might help you out on the tutoriials, i use me week end to work on one with images and all yeah!!!

[Johnny 1]

yeah now i can really do sigs now, actually johnny might help you out on the tutoriials, i use me week end to work on one with images and all yeah!!!

164428[/snapback]

Nah, I'm already gonna do my own image tuts. Don't worry about it.

[Saint_Michael 3]

i know that just taken some of the work load off of you and since im such a nice guy.

[snlildude87 0]

WHAT A TEASE!

Good tutorial, dude. I see I'm already guilty of some of the things mentioned.

Want another good font source? http://typenow.net/ See the drop down menu on the top-right? Click it.

[Johnny 1]

i know that just taken some of the work load off of you and since im such a nice guy.

164440[/snapback]

Heh, well, I'd prefer to do them myself, because I'm probably a lot more familiar with the concepts, but hey, do what you like. I'll still be doing my own though.

 

Good tutorial, dude. I see I'm already guilty of some of the things mentioned.

164485[/snapback]

I know. Quite a few other members are too, and it's obvious. It's okay though, you guys are all still learning, so don't worry about it. Just learn.

[snlildude87 0]

After seeing your brushing tutorial, I'm wondering...does the links to the brushes here have all types of brushes like abstract, grunge, fractal, and tech?

[Johnny 1]

After seeing your brushing tutorial, I'm wondering...does the links to the brushes here have all types of brushes like abstract, grunge, fractal, and tech?

164831[/snapback]

Wurklash and Nickmeister have some great tech brushes, sexyalice has some great fractals, and the rest have grunge, pretty much. Of course, they don't just limit themselves to one style, so you'll probably find many different types for each artist.

[snlildude87 0]

Wurklash and Nickmeister have some great tech brushes, sexyalice has some great fractals, and the rest have grunge, pretty much. Of course, they don't just limit themselves to one style, so you'll probably find many different types for each artist.

164857[/snapback]

Well then you should have stated that in your first post. I don't know, but it seems like it'll save some time for people who like a certain theme--they don't have to look through every brush link to find out.

[Johnny 1]

Well then you should have stated that in your first post. I don't know, but it seems like it'll save some time for people who like a certain theme--they don't have to look through every brush link to find out.

168083[/snapback]

Ah. Right. I'll do that in a sec.

[Saint_Michael 3]

aah listing what brushes you should get and not just pick at random even thought they have like pver 1000 diffferent brushes that can be used. (i just picked random from the differnt groups and when from their).

[areawe 0]

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for this tutorial! These links have been invaluable. I don't know why but it seems I'm going backwards through your tutorials. LOL, figures. Guess I just click on the first thing I see then move on down eventhough they are clearly numbered... doh!I have been a downloading machine today! I downloaded Gimp and have spent allot of time pouring through the font, brush, and render sites you provided above. There are allot of talented artists out there. It's awesome when they share their talent with the rest of us. Anyway, keep up the good work on these tutorials! It's awesome when you share your talent too! I'm still waiting on Part 4 so get busy! :DNow, I just need to thumb through all of these renders to see which one I'm going to practice with first. If you're lucky I may just embarrass myself by uploading my very first sig attempt!

[Johnny 1]

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for this tutorial! These links have been invaluable. I don't know why but it seems I'm going backwards through your tutorials. LOL, figures. Guess I just click on the first thing I see then move on down eventhough they are clearly numbered... doh!

 

I have been a downloading machine today! I downloaded Gimp and have spent allot of time pouring through the font, brush, and render sites you provided above. There are allot of talented artists out there. It's awesome when they share their talent with the rest of us. Anyway, keep up the good work on these tutorials! It's awesome when you share your talent too! I'm still waiting on Part 4 so get busy! 

 

Now, I just need to thumb through all of these renders to see which one I'm going to practice with first. If you're lucky I may just embarrass myself by uploading my very first sig attempt! 

168401[/snapback]

Haha, just glad I could help.

[snlildude87 0]

I have been a downloading machine today! I downloaded Gimp and have spent allot of time pouring through the font, brush, and render sites you provided above. There are allot of talented artists out there. It's awesome when they share their talent with the rest of us. Anyway, keep up the good work on these tutorials! It's awesome when you share your talent too! I'm still waiting on Part 4 so get busy! 

 

Now, I just need to thumb through all of these renders to see which one I'm going to practice with first. If you're lucky I may just embarrass myself by uploading my very first sig attempt! 

168401[/snapback]

The gimp has brushes and stuff? Do they have the same extension as photoshop? .abr? Just wondering because the stuff listed here are all for photoshop.

[Johnny 1]

Yes, GIMP has brushes, but I'm pretty sure they're not interchangeable. Thus the two seperate sections on deviantart.